Director, Center for Intellectual Freedom, University of Iowa

About the Center

The CIF mission, as codified in its bylaws and Iowa Code chapter 263C, is to educate students through free, open, and rigorous intellectual inquiry in pursuit of truth; equip students with the skills, habits, and dispositions of mind needed to reach their own informed conclusions on matters of social and political importance; enhance the intellectual diversity of the University; and foster a community of civil and free inquiry that respects the intellectual freedom of every member. The Center’s scholarship ranges from the foundational texts and debates of free societies and the principles of the American constitutional order to rigorous, objective inquiry into contemporary policy questions. The Director is assisted by a 26-member advisory council appointed by the Board of Regents.

Statutory Duties of the Director (Iowa Code § 263C.9)

• Have the sole and exclusive authority to recruit, hire, and terminate all CIF staff in accordance with state and federal law.
• Have authority to invite guest speakers to the University on behalf of the Center.
• Report directly to the Iowa Board of Regents, and
• Plan, organize, and execute adjustments to the Center’s operations to comply with the HF 2800 (2026) graduation requirement of six credit hours for all University of Iowa undergraduates.

Required Qualifications

• An academic record sufficient for tenure at the rank of full professor at the University of Iowa.
• A research expertise in at least one of the Center’s core disciplines (classics, economics, history, law, philosophy, political thought, or quantitative political science), combined with a demonstrated ability to engage with academic literature across all of these fields.
• An uncompromising commitment to academic freedom, unfettered and rigorous intellectual inquiry, and institutional neutrality, even in the face of countervailing pressures.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Compensation

This position is assigned to a Board of Regents Office paygrade 6, with an anticipated salary range of $200,000 to $450,000 commensurate with experience.

Application Materials

• To ensure best consideration, applications should be received by Friday August 14, 2026, and must include:
• A curriculum vitae;
• A detailed letter explaining the applicant’s qualifications for the position and vision for the Center; and
• A list of five professional references. References will not be contacted without prior authorization from the applicant.

Contact Information

Applicants selected for initial interviews will be asked also to submit samples of their scholarly work. The search is conducted by the CIF Advisory Council and its Executive Committee, which will submit finalists to the Iowa Board of Regents for final appointment.

Application materials should be submitted in PDF format to info@iowaregents.edu. Applications will remain confidential through the semifinalist stage, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Please direct any questions regarding the application process to info@iowaregents.edu.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.